CHAPTER XII.
MISCHANCE.
Ten minutes after young Charny rode out, the King's coach rumbled in.
As the duke had foreseen, the crowd had dissolved almost completely.
Knowing that a detachment of soldiery was to be at Sommevelle, Charny had thought he need not linger and had galloped beside the door, urging on the postillions and keeping them up to the hand-gallop.
On arriving and seeing neither Choiseul nor the escort, the King stuck his head out of the window.
"For mercy's sake, do not show yourself," said Charny; "let me inquire."
In five minutes he returned from the postinghouse where he had learnt all, and he repeated it to the monarch. They understood that the count had withdrawn to leave the road open. No doubt he had fallen back on St. Menehould where they ought to hasten to find him with the hussars and dragoons.
"What am I to do?" asked Charny as they were about to proceed again; "does the Queen order me to go ahead or ride in the rear?"